The director of the North Carolina Zoo will retire in 2016, Zoo officials announced Tuesday.

Dr. David Jones, 67, will retire in March of that year. He has been the zoo's director since 1994.

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Patricia "Pat" Simmons will succeed Jones after his retirement, zoo officials said. Simmons, who has been at the Akron Zoo for more than 30 years, will join the North Carolina Zoo in September as its deputy director and chief operating officer.

In a statement, zoo officials said Simmons' hiring is "part of a long-range strategic plan which includes a master plan and strategic growth opportunities for the Asheboro facility."

The Akron Zoo saw a record 389,000 visitors last year. The North Carolina Zoo averages more than 700,000 visitors a year.